So now (if you followed your homework from last week), you have gathered your tax items that you need. It is time figure out HOW you are going to do your taxes. Yuck.
It is sort of like a good valentines day date. You know you want to wear heels (or do your taxes in this case), but you just cant decide which one (HR Block, Turbo Tax, Efile..) If you were trying to figure out which shoes to wear, you would try them all on. Well you can't do that with filing taxes unless you want to spend all Saturday "shopping" for tax programs. (And who wants to be shopping for tax programs when you can be shopping for that next perfect heels). Think of reading this blog as saving yourself time on Saturday to do things you really want to do. (like shopping).
The down-and-dirty, save-time-for-shopping options:
1. Hire an accountant (aka the "expensive Louis Vuitton shoes"). Odds are, if you are in your 20s you probably don't need this option. Who wants to spend that much money just to pay more money to the government (or dip into your refund money). Do you NEED to go to HR Block? probably not, unless you have complications with your return (a major life event, tuns of interests, trusts, inheritance, small business, etc.) Of course, if you DO have a trust fund and tons of interest, I am ALWAYS taking personal donations (between us, we can call it a charitable contribution)
2. Free-File on the IRS website (aka the "$3 Old Navy flip flips"). If you make $58,000 or less, you have the option to free file on the IRS Website. AWESOME option if your return isn't too complicated and you aren't making over the limit. Make sure you go through the IRS website so you can avoid filing fees. (I also think doing your own taxes is good because you really get to see where your money comes from and what exactly goes into the dreaded term "taxes")
3. Turbo-tax or an at home solution. Questions to ask yourself when picking a software: Do I really need it? Will my company pay for it? Does it work with my computer software? Does it come with a guarantee? Oh, and this might be obvious, but beware of buying tax software on ebay. The 2005 edition just wont cut it with this year's tax laws!
And thus concludes your tax season lecture of the day. Happy Tuesday. Do your taxes, then buy some shoes.
I can't tell if this is the best blog entry you've made, or the most awesomest one ever!
ReplyDeleteHa i can't wait til the day someone hires me to screw up.. err... do their taxes and make money off of it.
By the way, mal, what type of shoes are those in your title header? The red ones? I like em. Ha what would be equally awesome would be some black louboutin shoes with the red soles. You can tell i sold womens shoes far too long
I love your article I definitely learned a lot from it, thank you very much.
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